The Joy of Garden Camping in Your BackyardJune is Backyard Camping Month, and it’s a perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors and the beauty of gardens from the comfort of your own home.

I consider backyard camping to be one of the most undervalued recreational activities utilized today. I understand not everyone has a backyard, or perhaps, one which they would consider safe or appropriate to use for an overnight campout. But even in situations such as these, an enclosed balcony or an indoor room with a view of the night sky, a surrounding garden/greenspace nearby, and a bit of imagination, can serve as a fun and viable substitute for the mountains of Montana or the Gardens of Versailles.

I have great memories of helping my Mom plant morning glories, four-o-clocks, and petunias every spring in the modest backyard garden of my childhood home, then waiting for summer to come around so I could pitch my pup tent in the perfect place next to those glorious flowers and a beloved maple tree. For snacks and drinks, we had fresh strawberries, Kool-Aid, and hot buttered popcorn we had just popped inside the house. For fun, we would snuggle up next to each other in our sleeping bags, tell stories (some funny, some scary) and read books by the light of a single Coleman lantern. And if the weather – and the moon – were just right, we would walk around the backyard with a flashlight late at night to catch lightning bugs, smell the flowers, and look for moths and other nocturnal critters I would never see during the day.

It was pure heaven.

Of course, this all took place years ago when I was a child – or during an era my kids refer to as, “Prehistoric times when dinosaurs roamed the earth.” But even though society (and technology aided comforts and activities) have changed, the joy of backyard garden camping can still be experienced, and it has never been easier. It is a fun and cost-effective family activity which I continued to do with my kids as they were growing up, and they continue to do with their children today. It’s perfect for multi-generational families, friends, and even solo adventurers looking to create lasting memories through the simplicity of camping and a love for nature and gardening without leaving home.

Here are Some Ways to Celebrate Backyard Garden Camping:

  1. Set Up a Tent:
    • Pitch a tent in your backyard (or on the balcony or an indoor room with a view). Involve the whole family in setting it up.
    • Use sleeping bags, camping mats, and pillows to make it cozy.
  2. Campfire Cooking:
    • If outside, build a safe fire pit or use a portable fire pit for a campfire.
    • Cook classic camping foods like hot dogs, marshmallows, and s’mores.
    • Try making foil packet meals or cooking on a portable camping stove.
  3. Star Gazing:
    • Lay out blankets and pillows for a comfortable star-gazing spot.
    • Use a star map or a stargazing app to identify constellations.
    • Set up a telescope for a closer look at the night sky.
  4. Outdoor Games:
    • Play classic camping games like capture the flag, flashlight tag, or hide and seek.
    • Set up a scavenger hunt with nature-themed clues.
    • Bring out board games or card games to play around the campfire.
  5. Nature and Garden Crafts:
    • Collect flowers, leaves, rocks, and twigs to make nature-inspired crafts.
    • Create leaf rubbings, rock paintings, or fairy houses.
    • Make friendship bracelets or other simple crafts that kids can do.
  6. Campfire Stories:
    • Share spooky ghost stories or funny camping tales around the campfire.
    • Encourage kids to make up their own stories.
    • Use a flashlight under your chin for a dramatic effect.
  7. Outdoor Movie Night:
    • Set up a projector and a screen (or a white sheet) for an outdoor movie.
    • Choose family-friendly films with camping or nature themes.
    • Provide popcorn, blankets, and lawn chairs for a cozy viewing experience.
  8. Bug Safari:
    • Equip kids with magnifying glasses and bug jars.
    • Explore the backyard to find and observe different insects.
    • Teach them about the various bugs they encounter and their roles in the ecosystem.
  9. Camping Crafts:
    • Make DIY lanterns or fairy lights to hang around the campsite.
    • Create personalized camping shirts or hats with fabric markers and paint.
    • Build bird feeders or birdhouses to attract local wildlife.
  10. Morning Nature Walk:
    • Wake up early for a morning walk around the neighborhood or local park.
    • Bring along a nature journal to document plants, animals, and insects you see.
    • Discuss the different sounds and sights of nature in the morning.
  11. Backyard Fishing Pond:
    • Set up a small inflatable pool and stock it with toy fish.
    • Use toy fishing rods or nets for a fun fishing game.
    • If you have a backyard pond, create a competition to see who can catch (or count) the most fish.
  12. DIY Obstacle Course:
    • Design an obstacle course using household items and outdoor equipment.
    • Include activities like crawling under tables, jumping over logs, hiding amidst garden plants, bushes, and trees, and balancing on beams.
  13. Camp Breakfast:
    • Cook a delicious outdoor breakfast on a portable grill or camping stove.
    • Make pancakes, bacon, eggs, and toast.
    • Enjoy your meal while listening to the morning sounds of nature. See who can match the most birdsongs to the correct bird.
  14. Plant and Flower Identification:
    • Go on a plant/flower identification walk in your backyard or local area.
    • Use a plant identification app or guidebook to learn about different plants.
    • Collect samples (if appropriate) to press and keep in a nature journal.
  15. Night Hike:
    • Take a short night hike around your backyard or a safe, familiar area.
    • Use flashlights or headlamps to light your way.
    • Listen for nocturnal animals and observe how the environment changes at night.
  1. Don’t Restrict Yourself to Only Camping in Your Backyard Garden During the Summer. With a bit of planning (and a few extra blankets and coats) backyard camping during the spring through fall/winter can offer great new opportunities to experience nature and your garden through seasonal change (did I hear a call-out for a pumpkin spice latte, hot cocoa, or warm apple cider?)
  2. Remember to take plenty of videos and photos for family memories.

Have fun, and happy garden camping.